Churchill Downs will welcome back Toyota Blue Grass winner Burnham Square (Liam’s Map) just days after his thrilling victory at Keeneland, trainer Ian Wilkes confirmed Wednesday morning.
“Both horses got back last night to Churchill,” Wilkes said from his Louisville base. “Everything is all good. It was a really exciting day for everyone involved.”
Wilkes enjoyed a remarkable Tuesday at Keeneland, capturing both Grade I features on the card. Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square secured the Blue Grass by the narrowest of margins, getting up in the final stride to edge Godolphin’s East Avenue (Medaglia d’Oro) by a nose. River Thames completed the trifecta in third position.
The trainer shared a light moment about his achievement compared to his mentor Carl Nafzger, under whom Wilkes worked when Nafzger trained Kentucky Derby winners Unbridled and Street Sense.
“I joked with Carl and said I’m one up on him in the Blue Grass,” Wilkes noted. Both of Nafzger’s eventual Derby winners were defeated in the Blue Grass in their final preps.
Wilkes completed his Grade I double when Positano Sunset (Goldencents) captured the Resolute Racing Madison at odds of 14-1, posting a one-length victory over favored Emery.
The seven-furlong Madison winner, owned by the partnership of Six Column Stables, Randall Bloch, John Seiler and David Hall, could target the Grade I Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 3 — also contested at seven furlongs.
Despite finishing second in the Blue Grass, trainer Brendan Walsh expressed satisfaction with East Avenue’s performance in the nine-furlong Kentucky Derby prep race.
“He’s doing well this morning,” Walsh said of last season’s Grade I Breeders’ Futurity winner. “He ran a great race. Those horses came to him and he fought back, and that’s what we wanted to see.”
The Blue Grass serves as one of the final major prep races for the Kentucky Derby, awarding qualifying points to the top finishers for the first Saturday in May classic.
